Usually we kick off the weekly coverage of the upcoming game by taking a quick look at the history between the Vikings and their opponents.
This week, the look is going to be extremely quick.
The Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans have only played against each other three times. The Texans have been a franchise for only 15 years. Since the current scheduling formula pits teams from opposite conferences against each other every four years, these two teams have faced off only three times. So let's take a look at the very brief history between the two thanks to Pro Football Reference:
Total games between the Vikings and Texans (including playoffs): 3
All-Time Record: Vikings, 3-0 (no playoff meetings)
Total Vikings Points Scored, Head-to-Head: 85 (28.3 points/game)
Total Texans Points Scored, Head-to-Head: 55 (18.3 points/game)
Longest Vikings Winning Streak Against Texans: 3 (10 October 2004 - Present)
Longest Texans Winning Streak Against Vikings: N/A
Most Recent Vikings Home Win In Series: 2 November 2008 (Final score 28-21)
Most Recent Texans Road Win In Series: N/A
Biggest Vikings Home Win In Series: 7 points, 2 November 2008 (Final score 28-21)
Biggest Texans Road Win In Series: N/A
Current Streak: Vikings, 3 victories
Told you it was brief! As you can see, the Texans have never defeated the Vikings. This week will be only the second time ever that the Vikings host this version of a Houston football franchise. Their most recent contest was in 2012, where the Vikings came in as a 7.5-point underdog and shut down the 12-2 Texans by a score of 23-6. For you kids that might not remember, this was back when Matt Schaub was a viable NFL quarterback and Vikings fans still thought Christian Ponder had a chance to be the quarterback of the future. My, how times have changed.
Just like the Vikings, Sam Bradford's history against the Texans is brief but positive. His only career game against Houston was a 2013 blowout victory when he was with the Rams. Bradford didn't need to do much that day--he attempted only 16 passes but still ended up with three touchdowns. (The Rams defense scored two touchdowns and the Rams ran only 41 offensive plays.)
Sunday will mark the first time Brock Osweiler has faced the Vikings in his young career. He was on the bench when the Broncos edged the Vikings last season.
Can the Vikings remain perfect against the Texans when they take the field at US Bank Stadium on Sunday at noon? Las Vegas certainly seems to think so. The Vikings are currently a 6.5-point favorite with a -270 money line.